BLANTYRE, MALAWI — Groups representing small-scale farmers, rural women and social activists from the countries of the Southern African Development Community, SADC, are asking the regional bloc to consider stop giving what they say is “red carpet” treatment to multilateral corporations at the expense of the poor.

The call is included in a joint statement issued by the Eastern and Southern African Small Scale Farmer’s Forum and People’s Dialogue which says the region is facing ongoing challenges and a deepening crisis due to neo-liberal economic policies.

Washington, 21 June 2005 - The
devastation and loss of life caused by last December's tsunami triggered
the biggest outpouring of financial contributions and the largest mobilization
of aid resources the world has seen in response to a natural disaster.
But six months later, a significant portion of the more than $6 billion
pledged by nations and other donors has yet to materialize.

The Bush administration will ask the
U.S. Congress for $950 million to help nations hard hit by the Indian Ocean
tsunami.

Some of the money will be used to cover
expenses already incurred by the Agency for International Development (USAID)
and the Defense Department. The bulk will cover reconstruction efforts,
such as rebuilding damaged infrastructure.

It more than doubles the original $350
million pledged by President Bush. U.S.

Los Angeles, 03 February 2005 -
A cargo plane loaded with more than $7 million dollars worth of medicine,
food and emergency supplies left Los Angeles for tsunami-stricken Southeast
Asia Wednesday. The airlift marked the end of short-term relief efforts
for several organizations, and the start of long-term reconstruction.

The airlift was organized by Operation
U.S.A, a California-based aid group, and Islamic Relief U.S.A, the US branch
of a British-based charity.

Islamic Relief began operations 21 years
ago to assist drought-stricken regions of Africa.